"My family is better off than ever under WorkChoices- thanks for asking!" -John Howard, PM
The Howard government has poo-poohed calls for an inquiry into the strain on family life caused by unreasonable demands of employment. Not, of course, because they've been busy screwing workers with their WorkChoices legislation, which has cut away many conditions that workers have taken for granted - overtime, public holidays, shift work loading, even rest breaks (ask any call-centre worker about rest breaks!). Nor, of course, does their dismissal of calls for an inquiry have anything to do with the fact that their legislation has enabled employers to cut the average pay for women who are employed on AWAs (worst-hit have been casual employees, who have no rights to begin with).
No, the reason the government won't hold an inquiry is because 'it will cost too much'.
Because the government is absolutely flat broke after splashing out an extra $2 billion (on top of the $4 billion that was budgeted) for some new planes for the army (I would hesitate to call it a defence force, given what it's been used for over the past couple of years). The government is always so good about coughing up the cash when it comes to buying whatever military gear the americans are flogging, but not when it comes to looking after the interests of Australian families.
Is that what 'Mainstream Values' stands for?
I must say, I was disappointed to hear an interview with Julia Gillard the other day, in which she effectively ruled out the prospect of paid maternity leave being legislated for under a Rudd Labor government. She also claimed it would be 'too expensive'.
Funny, it's worked in so many other civilised countries. I suppose this is just a case of Labor doing whatever it has to do in order to keep big business onside. If Labor gets Lathamed at this election it won't help anyone.
While we're touching on the effect of Howard's WorkChoices on women, let's have a flashback to October 2005. Who could have seen this coming?
3 comments:
If your student budget can extend to it (HM remembering what it was like to live on less than $150 a week) get this month's Monthly. The article on Howard's mindset as a leader explains a lot.
Awesome post BTW.
Sounds interesting- I've never heard of Monthly... maybe the library has it...
Its sad for Labor to be softening their stance on Work Choices.
Rudd is right faction Labor though. Hopefully Gillard can have some more political pull since she is left faction Labor and get the Howard Governments Work Choices disaster policy put in the bin!
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